The 1-day Ice Safety Workshop (ISW) is a great hands-on intro for groups looking to gain awareness of ice safety—and get experience with:
- ice assessment
- self-rescue
- rescuing others
This workshop is available for groups. If you’re an individual, you can register for one of the 2-day Ice Safety and Rescue (ISR) courses that are open to the public across Canada.
This program is great for groups looking for a day, or even a half-day of learning on the ice. The training is entirely customizable and it’s perfect for:
- field workers
- school groups
- outdoor clubs
- municipalities
- winter activity enthusiasts (xc-skiers, skaters, snowshoers, snowmobilers, ice fishers, snowshoers, kite skiers, etc.)
- corporate team building
Participants will get good awareness of how to assess ice conditions, so, most importantly, they can keep themselves safe by avoiding dangerous situations.
We’ll practice testing ice thickness with different tools that are easy to carry and use.
Everybody will have the opportunity to practice rescuing themselves and others—in the comfort of an insulated ‘immersion suit’.
The training will take place in a controlled setting on a lake, pond, or still river (NO fast current) with professional instructors.
At the end of the session, everybody has the option to get into the water without the immersion suits (but—with a PFD/lifejacket) to practice self-rescuing and controlling breathing.
Every activity throughout the day is ‘challenge by choice’—meaning participants can opt to observe, rather than perform, any of the skills.
NOTE: This is a workshop / experience, not a certification. For international certification, you can join a 2-day Ice Safety and Rescue course, or 3-day Ice Rescue Technician Course
COVID-19 Adapted
All courses are adapted for COVID-19. Read the COVID procedures.
Learning outcomes
Participants have a fun, active day outside while they:
- Get hands-on practice with experienced instructors in a great learning environment
- Learn how to judge ice conditions and recognize hazards
- Learn and try out multiple ways to test ice thickness
- Practice rescuing themselves and rescuing others—with basic techniques and minimal equipment
- Understand what safety gear to bring out on winter excursions
- Grow their knowledge and experience—so they can make good decisions when out on frozen lakes and rivers
Topics covered
Knowledge
- General concepts of ice safety and rescue
- How ice forms and thaws
- How to assess conditions
- What to do if you fall in
- What equipment to carry for different activities
- Signals and communications
- First aid topics: drowning and hypothermia
Skills
- Safe methods for approaching weak ice and testing thickness
- Self-rescue
- Rescuing other people with basic techniques
- Throw ropes
- Contact rescues
- Reaching tools and techniques
- Hauling people up and over the ice edge
- Rescue of panicked subjects
- Optional: self-rescue with no drysuit (just street clothes). Participants can opt into this at the very end of the session. They’ll wear a PFD (flotation device).
30 minutes online prep
Add-on online learning and prep
It’s up to you if you want to include pre-course online learning for your group.
If the group wants this, once registered, we’ll send each participant a link to our online platform.
They’ll complete 25 to 30 minutes of prep, including online learning and signing waiver forms.
You’ll also get access to additional learning resources.
Equipment and clothing to bring
This is a general list of what to bring. Please refer to your InfoPack (which you’ll receive once you register) for a complete list specific to your workshop.
We’ll provide you with:
- Immersion suit — this insulated suit is waterproof and has built in flotation, gloves/mitts, and booties
- Rescue training gear (ropes, ice testing devices to try)
- Course safety equipment: first aid kit, communication device, rescue sled
Your packing list:
COVID safety
- Face masks (bring at least 2) – not to be worn in the water
- Hand sanitizer (small bottle)
To bring out on the ice
- Backpack for your food, thermos and extra layers
- Snacks, lunch, and water bottle or thermos
Keeping yourself fuelled with calories is one of the keys to staying warm and happy. We usually don’t stop for a long food breaks but instead, take several shorter eating breaks so it’s good to bring lots of food and things that don’t require preparation.
- Personal medications
- Sunscreen, lip protection
- Optional: insulated lunch bag or cooler and heat pack
An insulated lunch bag / small cooler can be a nice option for storing food, beverages, medications, phone, and any other items you don’t want to freeze out on the ice
- Optional: Pencil and notepad / book
- Optional: Camera or action cam
- Optional: Sunglasses or prescription glasses with strap
Clothing to wear for ice immersion sessions
We provide an ‘immersion suit’, please wear/bring these items to go along with it:
- Synthetic or wool long underwear top and bottom
- Synthetic or wool winter socks
- Lightweight warm slippers to wear inside the suit
- Thick fleece top, wool sweater, or synthetic ‘puffy’ top
- Fleece or wool warm pants (or very thick long underwear)
- Toque (warm hat) X 2
- Neck/face warmer
- Warm winter mitts (these are in addition to the ones built into the suit )
- Winter boots or footwear (depending on the suit, you can sometimes wear these over top or inside)
Clothing for your travel to and from the course
- Change of clothes and winter boots for your way home
- Gear bag to store your equipment for transport
Clothing for OPTIONAL ‘no-immersion suit self-rescue’
At the end of the session, you’ll have the opportunity (100% OPTIONAL) to experience going into the ice water with no immersion suit and rescuing yourself. (Your instructor will be right there and closely watching you if you need a hand).
You’ll wear a PFD (flotation device), which we provide, and ‘street clothes’ or base layers.
If you’re considering doing this, please bring:
- A set of street clothes or base layers which will get soaked (these could be the clothes you start with under your immersion suit…since we’ll be done afterwards)
- A bag or container to transport the wet stuff in afterwards
Optional: any other outdoor gear or work clothing you want to try falling in the water with (examples: xc-skis and poles, snowshoes, work coveralls, winter boots or ski boots, snowmobile suit and helmet, etc.—keep in mind these will be soaked afterwards)
